Creed Of Heaven

Chapter 8: The Old Pervert

Lu Xiao rode hard from Monteriggioni to Florence, arriving dusty and worn. The Medici guards at the gate gave him a once-over, but Mario's papers got him through without a hitch. His Eastern features—way off from the Italian norm—drew stares from soldiers and passing traders alike. Their murmurs followed him.

To dodge the spotlight, he pulled his cloak's hood back up once inside, keeping a low profile as he nudged his horse through Florence's streets. The outer district wasn't much different from Monteriggioni—low mud-brick houses everywhere, folks trudging along with blank faces, dressed in grubby linen rags. It was a familiar grind.

But as he eased the horse down the main road, Florence's buzz started to hit. Men and women in flashy medieval getups popped up all over. The style was still stiff and old-school, but their vibe screamed confidence—heads high, chatting and laughing with their buddies. The market hummed with vendors hollering for attention, a real snapshot of a city bursting with life. Stalls lined the street, spilling over with dyed fabrics, glistening fish, and baskets of olives.

Gothic churches and towers lined the road, their sharp spires jabbing the sky—tall, lean, built to ooze Catholic mystery and awe. Mixed in were sleeker Renaissance buildings, a Medici-approved middle finger to the old God-first designs. The Santa Maria del Fiore—Florence's crown jewel—stood out most. No gothic gloom here; it rocked classical columns and rounded arches, a throwback to Roman flair. Its massive dome dominated the skyline, a reddish glow catching the sun's last rays, and Lu Xiao slowed his horse to take it in, awestruck by its sheer size.

Following Mario's map, Lu Xiao poked around this Renaissance hotspot, curiosity tugging at him. He finally tracked down the Auditore mansion not far from the cathedral. "Well, damn…" He couldn't help but gawk at the sprawling estate. Its walls rose three stories, pale stone, with arched windows.

Back in his modern world, city-center land was gold—prices shot up like crazy the closer you got. The Auditores owning a chunk this big smack in the middle of Florence screamed money and clout. Lu Xiao whistled under his breath, impressed despite himself. This wasn't just a house—it was a statement.

The long trip had worn him and his horse down. Leading it to the mansion's gate, Lu Xiao handed Mario's letter to the doorman. "Tell Giovanni Auditore I'm here. Pass this along too." His voice was rough from the road, dust still clinging to his cloak as he shook it off his shoulders.

The guy squinted at the hooded stranger. "Sorry, the master's still at the bank. Can I give it to Lady Maria instead?" He tilted his head, sizing Lu Xiao up, his fingers hovering over the wax-sealed parchment.

Lu Xiao's brow ticked up as he ran through Mario's intel. 'Maria de' Mozzi—born to Florence's Mozzi elite, fully in on Giovanni's work and secret life. His rock, and a Brotherhood member herself.'

He nodded under the hood. "Yeah, that's fine. Give it to Lady Maria." The doorman's deference made sense—Maria wasn't just a noble wife; she was a player in her own right.

The doorman flashed a grin, twirling his hand in a fancy bow. "Right away. Please wait here a sec, honored guest." He darted off, leaving Lu Xiao by the gate.

Lu Xiao stuck out like a sore thumb in his travel-grimed cloak among the prim central-district crowd. Passersby shot him weird looks—some curious, some suspicious.

"Hey! Who're you? Why're you clogging up my doorway?" A cocky voice hit him from behind, paired with a hand slapping his shoulder like they were old pals.

Lu Xiao tensed, nearly yanking the swords hidden under his cloak to gut the guy. Lucky for them both, he caught himself—remembering where he was. 'Chill. This is Florence's safe city center, not some bandit-infested backroad.' 

Italy's 15th-century outskirts were a mess. He'd fended off robbers plenty on the trek from Monteriggioni—enough kills to sharpen his edge and keep him jumpy. The reckless hand on his shoulder had no clue it'd danced with death. Lu Xiao exhaled, shaking off the adrenaline, and turned slowly, keeping his expression blank under the hood.

He turned to face the voice. A young guy in slick noble threads stood there, a smirky grin half-hiding the sharp, wary glint in his eyes. Pretty-boy looks, with a loose, carefree swagger. A nervous-looking noble kid trailed behind him.

"Ezio, don't hassle our guest." A calm, scolding woman's voice cut in. 

The smirker—Ezio—dropped his hand fast, throwing both up with an innocent pout. "Mother, I didn't do anything!"

"Ezio?" Lu Xiao's eyes locked on the guy from under his hood. This Ezio didn't match the game version—less rugged, softer and striking. "Guess that rumor's legit."

He'd heard ages ago that 'Assassin's Creed II''s Ezio was tweaked—blended with Desmond's DNA for player vibes. The real deal looked different. This Ezio had a softer jaw, brighter eyes, the kind of charm that'd turn heads in a crowd.

Snapping out of it, Lu Xiao shifted to the woman who'd spoken. She was a middle-aged noble, all grace and poise. Time had etched some lines on her face, but she still had that glow—every move polished, screaming etiquette lessons. Her gown was deep blue, trimmed with silver, and her hair was pinned up in a style that spoke of quiet authority.

She waved Ezio quiet, then lifted her long skirt slightly to curtsy. "I'm Maria Auditore. A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Lu Xiao, from the distant East." Her voice was warm but measured, her eyes flicking over him with a knowing glint—Mario's letter had clearly filled her in.

Lu Xiao mimicked the chest-tap bow he'd picked up from Mario. "Lady Maria, the honor's mine." He kept it simple.

Maria's smile widened slightly, approving. Maria gestured inside. "Come in, get settled. Giovanni won't be back for an hour or two."

Ezio, sidelined, piped up loud. "Mother, who's this guy?" He crossed his arms, leaning against the gatepost with a theatrical huff, like he'd been personally slighted.

She glanced at him, voice flat. "Your Uncle Mario's friend. He'll be staying with us for a bit—you'll have plenty of time to get along." Her tone left no room for argument.

"Huh?" Ezio's grumble got ignored. Maria softened, nodding at Lu Xiao. "Sorry you had to see that. This is my second son, Ezio, and my youngest, Petruccio." She gestured to the smaller boy, who'd been hovering behind Ezio.

"Bit rough around the edges, as you can tell. I'd appreciate it if you kept an eye on them down the line." Maria's request carried a hint of exhaustion, like she'd been begging the universe for backup with these two.

Petruccio, maybe twelve or thirteen, gave a shy smile—total opposite of Ezio's loudmouth energy. 

"Mother! I don't need babysitting! I—" Ezio started, his voice rising in protest as he straightened up, all bravado.

"Shut it," Maria snapped, a little sharp. "You staying out of trouble's a miracle enough—I'm not your father, I won't coddle you."

Ezio flinched, mumbling, "Yes, ma'am…" with a guilty edge.

Lu Xiao watched the teenage Ezio with a mix of amusement and awe. "Even a legend like him had a cocky punk phase… No wonder they call him the old pervert." He stifled a grin.

***

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